Senate to FG: Evacuate Nigerians stranded in South Sudan

Posted by Mayowa Okekale, Abuja | 22 July 2016 | 1,454 times

The Senate has summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, over the plight of Nigerians stranded in South Sudan, calling on the Federal Government to make necessary arrangements to evacuate trapped citizens.

The resolution followed a Point of Order raised by Deputy Spokesman of the Senate, Senator Ben Bruce (PDP, Bayelsa) during plenary, on Thursday.

According to Bruce, “reports reaching me indicated that Nigerians in Sudan were the only nationals still left in the country in spite of the increasing crisis. As we speak in this Hallowed Chamber, the fate of Nigerians in South Sudan is unknown and there are no indications that they have been evacuated.”

He said rather than being evacuated, Nigerians in the conflict zone are being subjected to question and answer sessions and subsequently dismissed by the authorities.

Bruce, however, asked the Senate to invite the Minister to explain why Nigerians have been abandoned in the conflict-torn country.

The lawmaker also urged the Senate to mandate the Committee on the Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations to carry out holistic investigation into what transpired between Nigerians and officials at the Nigerian Embassy in the country.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, while upholding Senator Bruce’s prayers, said the relevant authorities would be communicated appropriately. And I think that based on our rule, there will be no debate. But we will get the message across to the relevant ministry to see that a thing like this doesn’t happen and action is taken to properly address the matter.”